Just a day out from the historic first debut of the First Crack Grand Final, coach Nev Clarkson looks to shake up his side who face a hot and cold DAZZLERS DINGOES.
Speaking from his head office in Penrose Auckland, Clarkson said he has a few concerns with certain players who have “not done enough to merit a new contract” for the 2019 season. While a few key injuries to Paul Vaughan and key half Gareth Widdop threatened to derail the hopes of a promising season, a promising pick up of a former Dingo Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, helped to propel the Auckland outfit to the Minor Premiership.
Tuivasa-Sheck was outstanding in his first debut match, scoring 85 and being 100n80’s highest scorer for the round, he now diverts his attention to hammering home the final nail in the DINGOES season, which was a massive fall from grace for the once untouchable club.
RTS was extremely lucky to be picked up so late in the season, but after some untimely injuries in key areas he got his chance, and slotted right into the number 1 after his axing from the DINGOES for former AVENGER Jason Taumalolo. DINGOES mentor Darren Bevan says “if it wasn’t for needing to strengthen a few key areas, RTS would still be in the squad”
“It hurt, it hurt a lot” admits the young kiwi, “but I was stuck behind Teddy, and he’s been outstanding this season”. “I owe Clarky a lot, he had many options on the table and chose me, now it’s about repaying the faith he showed in me”
It can be revealed that Clarkson, almost told Daly Cherry-Evans to walk for a second time this
season, but a key injury to Alex Johnston meant the manager needed to Cameron Munster to the
halves. This left the former 100n80 Captain, and original MVP leader. DCE was punted for Ben
Hunt mid-season, but made a return at the back end when he started to hit a purple patch.
“If I wanted a long neck, I’d head to the Newmarket Hotel and use it to wash down a chicken
schnitzel” snarled Clarkson, a man who isn’t shy when telling you what he thinks of you. “We
picked him up in the draft as an auto selection, I had to play him early and see how he went, and
he just wasn’t the right fit for our structure”. “Ben Hunt had been playing some good football
and we took a gamble on him, but I am just glad we dropped him before he dropped us” says
Clarkson with and obvious remark towards Hunts inability to catch anything. “Not even a damn
cold” quips the 38 year old as he downs his 3rd bottle of Tui Pale Ale.
Someone who has been key is Captain (Damian) Cook. The nippy half was surprisingly over
looked in the draft round, this was due to him sharing the hooking role with Robbie Farah.
Clarkson, who missed draft day in the now infamous “lost weekend” where he was out on a
bender with some new found friends. Clarkson does admit, Cook may not have been picked up
as he was chasing Rule #1 Cameron Smith.
DINGOES coach Darren Bevan is also apprehensive about the upcoming clash. After jumping
to a 5-0 start to the season, the DINGOES seemed to simmer through the rest of the season,
falling in their final match of the season to Basic B!tches which then gifted the Minor
Premiership to 100n80. “It has been a complete disaster for the club” says the well-spoken
manager. “This comp was a walk in the park as far as I am concerned, then not one, but two
family members decided to screw me over in completely different facets”. Bevan is furious, yet
continues to burn bridges “Joanne Bevan…. What a tanker. It was obvious to all that she’d given
up and I for one am furious as it cost me the Minor Premiership”. The usually shy 37 year old
was also irate at his wife Talia, as the Basic B!tches hammered the DINGOES in their final
round clash, which then handed the Minor Premiership spoils to 100n80 on better For and
Against.
Bevan faces a few issues in the decider with some key personnel in doubt for the big clash.
Cameron Smith is struggling with injuries, and Villame Kikau seems to have over stayed his
welcome, fighting with Government Officials over visa issues. When asked about the dilemma,
Kikau was hard to understand. “I not know why is the issue. I came to Australia and learned to
talk the good England, but Sammy Burgess look at me as if I spoke in a foreign talk”.
One thing is for sure, First Crack has been a success, and an expansion in on the cards for the
2019 season. A few rivalries are now set in stone with a season completed. The biggest rivalry
will clash this weekend and it’s sure to be a cracker.
100n80 likely line up 1. R.Tuivasa-Sheck 2. N.Cotric, 3. J.Leilua 4. E.Marsters 5. B.Ferguson 6. C.Munster 7. D. Cherry-Evans 13. L.Fitzgibbon 12. S.Lane 11. A. Crichton 10. R.James (vc) 9. D.Cook ©, 8. M.Eisenhuth. Reserves T.Sims, K.Proctor, J.Isakko, R.Matterson
Dazzlers Dingoes likely lineup 1. J.Tedesco 2. J.Rapana 3. L.Mitchell 4. J.Ramien 5. M.Fonua 6. C. Walker 7. A.Reynolds 8. M.Taupau 9. C.Smith 10. V.Kikau 11. B.Cordner 12. J.Trbojevic © 13. J.Taumalolo(vc). Reserves: C.McInnes, T.Harris, N.Brown, C.Watson